Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#202846 - 04/07/19 09:37 AM Old dog/new tricks
GrumpyGord Online   content
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 945
Loc: Michigan
I am wondering how others pack their sleeping bag.I have always put it in a stuff sack in the bottom of my pack. It seems that many others place it unstuffed in the bottom of the pack and let other items settle in around it. If so how do you stuff it, rolled, folded or random jam?

On somewhat the same subject, where do you carry your food bag? I have been putting it on top but that is contrary to the rule of putting the heavy stuff low. The heavy low rule was fine when we carried tall heavy packs but now my entire pack is below shoulder height so it is not as critical.

Top
#202847 - 04/07/19 02:57 PM Re: Old dog/new tricks [Re: GrumpyGord]
aimless Online   content
Moderator

Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 3292
Loc: Portland, OR
I randomly jam my sleeping bag into its stuff sack. I pack it low in my pack, at the bottom. That locates it just above my hips. I think the rule, as I learned it, was heavy stuff near one's back, which seems slightly higher to me than the bottom of my pack. Back when I packed with an external framed Kelty-clone, the sleeping bag was strapped on at the bottom, too.

My food tends to go in near the top, but my clothes sack seems heavier to me than the food. Luckily, the entire pack is now much lighter than when I began backpacking, so the old rules seem less important now, too. smile

Top
#202848 - 04/07/19 03:37 PM Re: Old dog/new tricks [Re: GrumpyGord]
Glenn Roberts Online   content
Moderator

Registered: 12/23/08
Posts: 2208
Loc: Southwest Ohio
I line up with Aimless: sleeping bag is a random jam, no sack (unless prolonged rain is in the forecast), compressed as much as needed to fit in the rest of the load. Next is my rolled NeoAir and any clothing I won’t need during the day. Next is food and kitchen, against the back of the pack, with the tent (in its long narrow sack or two smaller sacks) filling the space between the food/kitchen and the front of the pack, locking it in place. A sweater or down jacket goes on the very top, in case I want them at breaks.

Rain gear goes in the top compartment, readily available. Water filter and spare 2-liter container in one side pocket; another 2-liter container (with one liter of water) in the other side pocket; sit pad, first aid kit, map, and other small stuff in the front pocket. (General pattern: stuff I use during the day outside the main compartment and stuff I'll use in camp in the main compartment.)

Top
#202853 - 04/08/19 01:53 AM Re: Old dog/new tricks [Re: GrumpyGord]
JustWalking Offline
member

Registered: 01/12/16
Posts: 293
Loc: PNW
I always put my quilt in a stuff sack, and then in the bottom of the pack, followed by my Neoair, pillow and, usually, 1/8" foam pad. Food bag, in an Ursack, goes on top of that, against my back. Other stuff in front of the food bag. Shelter is almost always in the kangaroo pocket on the back of the pack.

Top
#202856 - 04/08/19 08:22 AM Re: Old dog/new tricks [Re: GrumpyGord]
GrumpyGord Online   content
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 945
Loc: Michigan
I have seen a couple of references to folks leaving their sleeping bag loose in the bottom of their pack.I have always put it in a stuff sack and never even really thought about it.I guess that the next time I go out I will have to try it. I am not sure whether it would take up more or less room loose. In a stuff sack it certainly is a lump in the bottom and other items do not settle around it.

The rules have certainly changed since I started with this and so have I. My first trip was an overnight with about 45 pounds and the sleeping bag strapped to the bottom of the pack.

Top
#202858 - 04/08/19 11:22 AM Re: Old dog/new tricks [Re: GrumpyGord]
BZH Offline
member

Registered: 01/26/11
Posts: 1189
Loc: Madison, AL
I put a trash compactor bag in my bag and then just jam my sleeping bag into that. I just jam it in randomly... I don't roll it or fold it first. I jam it down as much as I can then add my pillow, down jacket and any extra clothes I might have. I push it all down as much as I can and fold down the top of the trash compactor bag. I then add everything else on top. I pack food on the very top... because I want to eat during the day. Also, if I have things like crackers or chips I don't want them getting crushed.

edit: I want to add that I started doing this based on advice here and around the net. the idea being that the stuff sack is awkward to pack. Doing it this way, the equipment on top compresses the sleeping bag into a natural shape around your other equipment. I think that is true, but the final compression is much smaller for a just the right size stuff sack. With a stuff sack you have more dead space, but I am not convinced you have less room. I think both ways work out to be about the same amount of taken up space.


Edited by BZH (04/08/19 11:27 AM)

Top
#202859 - 04/08/19 02:56 PM Re: Old dog/new tricks [Re: BZH]
Glenn Roberts Online   content
Moderator

Registered: 12/23/08
Posts: 2208
Loc: Southwest Ohio
Like probably everyone over 50 here, I also started out with the sleeping bag stuffed into a stuff sack and lashed to the bottom of my external frame pack. (The pack bag didn't go all the way to the bottom; it was designed for the sleeping bag not to be inside the pack.)

When I got my first internal frame pack, designed to store the sleeping bag inside, I got rid of the stuff sack. This was partly because it made sense, but mostly because Colin Fletcher, in Complete Walker II (or was it III?) told us that internal frame packs were designed to have the sleeping bag tucked solidly into all the small corners of the bottom of the pack, to help the pack "work" properly. After all, if Colin said it, it must be true, right? (And he'd be the first to yell, "No, not necessarily!" smile )

Top
#202862 - 04/09/19 07:08 PM Re: Old dog/new tricks [Re: Glenn Roberts]
ShastaBubba Offline
newbie

Registered: 04/02/19
Posts: 2
Loc: MT
I've been carrying my quilt in a DCF roll-top (dry bag) stuff sack in the bottom of the pack out of paranoia, and it does become a rock in the back at times. This probably is overkill, since I also carry a trash compactor bag (folded up) with the thermarest 'tap' in the corner which I use to inflate my Xlite pad -- so I'm grateful for the reminder to use the compactor bag for the quilt with the top folded over. My main pack is the HMG Windrider, so it would take a real gullywasher rain to cause any problems.

Top
#202864 - 04/10/19 02:51 PM Re: Old dog/new tricks [Re: ShastaBubba]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
IMHO, the sleeping bag is the most important piece of insulation and needs to be kept dry at all costs. After taking a tumble during a dicey stream ford some years back, I found that my sleeping bag and extra insulating clothing kept in a dry bag were still absolutely dry, while everything else was exposed to the water (several inches deep in the bottom of my pack). Fortunately anything else vulnerable (like dry food) was in plastic bags.

Since the weather was cold and rainy, I would have been in serious straits had my insulation gotten wet!

I do see the advantages of a pack liner, but would switch only if the liner could be sealed against possible immersion and were not slippery. I tried a plastic liner one year, but it turned every morning's packing up into a fight, repeatedly stuffing small items down into my pack only to have them pop right out at me again. After that frustrating trip, I found that eliminating the slippery pack liner saved me at least 15 minutes and lots of frustration each morning.

Your vital insulation needs not so much defense against heavy rain (although that can be a problem) but the dangers of immersion. I found testing waterproof containers before each trip (in the bathtub) is an excellent idea.
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 170 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum